Washing machine



Dec. 10, 1940. s, s, HQLLAND 2,224,348 4 WASHING MACHINE Filed March 7, 1938 INVENTCR ATTORN EY Heretofore washing Patented Dec. 1940 PATENT, ori-ics 2,224,348 WASHING momma sianey s. nonna, Sandusky, om,4 assigner te The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March '1, 1938, Serial No. 194,308 s claims. (01.248-13) vThis invention relates to washing machines and more particularly to an improved means and method of mounting a power unit on a washing -machine.

machine manufacturers have endeavored to provide their dealers with one line of washing machines having an electric motor power unit for those customers accessible to electric :power and a second line of wash- 10 ing machines provided with a combustion engine power unit for the use of their rural customers or customers desiring this type of motive power. -In order that the dealer would be in position to furnish his customers with either a gas engine l5 or an electric motor drivenmachine in each oi the various styles of washing machines, it has been necessary for the dealer, under the practice above outlined, to stock and display a complete line of gas engine driven modeis and a complete go line of electric motor driven models. As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the two models distinguish from each other mainly in the power unit and the mounting therefor.

To obviate the necessity for each dealer stock- 4 25 ing two complete lines of appliances and to render his inventory more exible, it is among the objects of this invention to provide a washing machine and a, power unit support therefor in which each washing machine is adapted to alternatively 30 receive either a gas engine power unit or an electric motor power unit. among the objects of my invention to provide a power unit support which maybe easily and quickly removed from or attached to a washing 35 machine tub support structure and in which the I power unit support may carry either an electric motor or a gas engine.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a power unit support in the form of a metal o band having a diameter less than the diameter of the washing machine support structure, whereby the band and its power unit may be arranged within the washing machine support- -ing structure or casing and secured thereto in 5 operative position.

It is also anobiect of my invention to provide a washing machine power unit support in the form of a band having chordal struts in which the band is secured to the tub supporting structure 50 of the washing machineand the chordal struts carry the power unit. t It is a further object of my invention to provide a washing machine having tub supporting elements with a power unit support which will 55 function not only to operatively supportl a plower More speciilcally 1t is unit but which will also serve to tie the tub supporting elements to each other and render more sturdy the entire assembly.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a washing machine in accordance with the preceding objects` in which the power unit is mounted in the structure in a manner whereby it is Yelectrically insulated and cushioned with respect to noise and vibration from the rest of the washing machine structure.'v 10 Further objects and advantages relating to efilciency in construction andeconomies in manufacture will appear from the following description and the appended drawing in which;

Figure l is a perspective view of a washing machine having a power unit support constructed 'in accordance with my, invention;

Figure 2 is a. perspective view of a power unit support made according to my invention, provided with a gas engine power unit; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a power unit support made according to my invention provided with an electric motor; f

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view 'with parts broken away showing the mounting of the power unit support ring on the washing machine; Figure 5 is a sectional View with parts broken away showing a modiiied method of mounting a powerv unit support upon the washing machine; 30 Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of Figure 2, showing'the cushion mounting of the power unit;

Figure 'l is a plan view of a modiiied form of power unit support band. Tol attain the objects outlined above and to avoid the economic disadvantages associated with the provision of y'two complete lines of washing machines, I have provided a washing machine 8, having a leg supporting structure 1, which carries a power unit support identified generally as at I0. It will become apparent as the description proceeds that the specific details of the washing machine 6 and the tub supporting struc- 45 ture or casing form no essential part; o the present invention and are. included herein to facilitate an understanding of the invention. In

`this connection it is pointed out that the washing be of any conventionaltype provided with a beltdriven pulley.

For the purposes of illustration the washing machine 6 includes tub supporting legs 'l having a channel cross-section with the web portions thereof near their lower ends, apertured to receive fasteners 8 of a power unit assembly. Preferably the powerunit assembly includes a supportl in the shape of a ring or band I4 made of strap iron. The band i4 may be formed from. a single length of strap iron with its free ends overlapped and secured to each other as in Figure 2, or the band may comprise a unitary solid ring such as shown in Figure 3.

The band or ring elementi, is proportioned with respect to the diameter of the circle defined by the supporting legs l so that the band iii may be arranged therein as shown in Figure l. Although certain supporting structures may permit the securing of the band it directly to the washing machine, I prefer to employ the hangers i I which are adapted to extend within the channel of the legs Preferably the hangers il are secured to the ring i6 like i5, and the ring and hanger are cushioned with respectto each other by a rubber grommet iii and washer il. A metal washer i8 bears against the washer i1 and this assembly prevents the transmission of power unit noise and vibration to the supporting structure of the washing machine. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in certain installations such as for instance where a gas engine is used, the errhaust of the engine and other noises may permit the elimination of the cushioning elements i--i'ii and that where desired the hangers may be riv= eted or otherwise secured directly to the band iii, somewhat as illustrated in Figure 5.

To secure the power unit such as for instance the gas engine El of Figure 2, within the band ifi, chordal struts 22 and 23 are arranged within the band and have their ends secured to the inner periphery thereof. The chordal strutsare spaced wardly from the chordal struts through the from each other a distance corresponding sub stantially to the width of the base oi the engine 2l and J-bolts 2d are arrangedto project upbase of the engine 2i. qTo piovide a quiet and more or less resilient mounting for the engine, the chordal struts are wrapped in the region of the `I-bolts 2t with a rubber or ber cushion material such as 25 (see Figure 6). The gas engine 2i is provided with a' pulley 26 having a v-belt groove therein and a belt running from this pulley may be arranged to drive a similarly grooved pulley on the washing machine gear mechanism (not shown) It will be observed that the J-bolt mounting oi the engine upon the chordal struts 22 and 2t will permit the engine to be moved along the struts in a manner to adjust the tension in the drive belt and that the power unit may be correctly v with respect to. the chordal struts 22 and 2l' and is provided with a pulley 21 having a V-groovo to receive a belt, arranged between the motor and the gearing mechanism oi' the washing machine.

" selected the type or by means of a rivet or the `said struts support the From the foregoing description it will be understood that the gas engine with its supporting ring structure and the electric motor with its supporting' ring structure may be carried by the dealers as package units. Upon the customer having model of washing machine tub structure desired and having indicated to the dealer his preference as to power unit, the dealer merely attaches the appropriate driving unit by means of the four bolts 8.

An alternative form of mounting for the. power unit support is illustrated in Figure 5. In this type of mounting the hanger l la extends laterally from the ring or band i5 and is apertured as at it to receive the stem of .the caster 9. It will be observed that the weight of the washing-machine is exerted through the legs 'l' upon the upper surface of the hanger ila and thus serves to hold the power unit supporting ring in position. I'his method of mounting the power unit in the washing machine obviates'the necessity for removing any bolts or other detachable fastenings.

Although in the preferred embodiments oi' my invention I have shown the ring or band it as being circular in shape, certain 'installations may be suited to the use oi a band non-circular or octagonal in shape such as I have shown in Figure '7. The band 33 of Figure 7 is preferably provided at four spaced points with hangers i l as in the preferredk embodiment and such hangers are secured to relatively short fiat sides of the Octagon. spaced struts 3i and 32 are arranged between opposed at sides of the Octagon and power unit in the manner heretofore described in detail in connection with `the descriptions of Figures 2 and 3.

In the support of Figure 7, as well as in all other embodiments of my invention, it will be observed that the ring itself and the struts'extending transversely of the ring are made of strap iron, with its width or hat side arranged in a vertical plane. This disposition. of the iron going into the supporting structure places the members in their most eiicient load-bearing V other. Due to the construction and arrangement which I have provided for supporting the power unit and tying the legs of the washing ,machine to each other, it is possible to accomplish both of said functions in a more emcient and economical manner than said functions have heretofore been enacted in this art.

Although I have disclosed several embodiments of my invention in considerable detail, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art may eect modications or changes therein without departing from the scope of the invention as deiined in the following claims.

I claim:

1.v A power unit support for a washing machine having depending legs, said support comprising a circular band of strap iron, a plurality of strap iron struts arranged transversely of said ring with the ends of said struts secured to the ring, a power unit having a base arranged onsaid struts. a plurality of J-bolts with their hooked ends disposed about the lower edge of Said struts and their upper ends projecting through apertures in said power unit base, whereby said power unit maybe clamped in adjusted position along said struts and a plurality of spaced hangers interposed between said legs and said handA to maintainthe support in operative position.

2. A power unit support for a washing machine having a tub with depending legs, said support comprising. a circular ring of strap iron, a plurality of strap iron struts arranged transversely oi' said inner face of said ring with the ends of said struts secured to the ring, a power unit having a base engaging said struts, a plurality of fastening devices arranged about the lower edge of said struts and through said power unit base, whereby said power unit may be clamped in adiusted position along said struts, and a. plurality of spaced hangers secured to said ring and to said tub supporting leg structure.

3. A power unit support for washing machine having a tub support comprising a strap iron ring having its greatest dimension less than the greatest dimension of the tub support so as to be received therein, a power unit supported within said ring and a plurality of spaced hangers secured to said ring and extending outwardly therefrom, means to detachably mount the outer ends of said hangers on said washing machine tub support. the attachment of said hangers to said ring including an insulating cushion device to dampen the shock and noise of the power unit with respect to the washing machine and its ieg supporting structure.

4. A washing machine having a tub and a supporting structure depending therefrom, a plurality oi casters for said supporting structure having stems extending upwardly therefrom and received within said supporting structure, a power unit support for said washing machine comprising a member proportioned to fit within said tub supporting structure provided with hangers extending outwardly from the periphery thereof, each oi said hangers on their outer end having an aperture adapted to receive the stem of said caster prior to its insertion within the washing machine supporting structure, whereby the power unit and its support are secured in operative position.

5. A Washing machine comprising a tub with depending spaced legs, a power unit support detachably secured to said legs comprising a. strap iron ring having hangers arranged in number and in spacing to correspond to said supporting legs and secured to said legs, a pair oi spaced strap iron chordal struts in said ring with their ends secured to the inner face thereof. a power unit having a base supported by said chordal struts, resilient cushion members interposed between said struts and said base. and fastening means engaging said cushion members and said base to resiliently mount said power unit in its operative position.

SIDNEY S. HOLLAND.

CERTIFICATE oF conREcTroN. patent No. 2,22h5h8. December 1o, 191m.

SIDNEY. s. HOLLAND.

It is hereby certified that erryor appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line ll, claim 2, strike out the words "inner face of seid" and iilsert the same before "ring" in line 12, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the seme may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 8th day of April, A. -D. 191D..

Henry van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.) 

